Title: The Rough Guide Legends: Edith Piaf - France - 2 CD Type: CD Label: World music network Code:RGNET1258 Release date: 2011 Edith Piaf’s life may have been tumultuous but her music stayed constantly brilliant throughout. Enjoy a fine selection of her classic tunes on this hand-picked Rough Guide. The album opens with the well-known and much loved tune, ‘La Vie En Rose’. Edith’s signature vibrato vocal soars across swooning strings and piano accompaniment. ‘Adieu Mon Coeur’ showcases Edith in a reflective almost bluesy mood. ‘Jezebel’ stands out in the collection as Edith channels a different vibe. Here thrusting guitar, strict rhythmic riffs, and a strong chest voice sound almost Flamenco-esque. ‘Rien De Rien’ features Edith in a playful bright style. Her off-hand sounding vocals are countered brilliantly by the flighty orchestra who periodically interject with razzing horns and tip-toeing woodwind. The second half of the song lilts into a dragging jazz swing that reeks of cheeky and ironic melodrama. ‘Padam Padam’ is a swirling sinister sounding ballad. ‘Milord’ tells the story of young poverty stricken girl who develops a crush on an upper-class gentleman. It was perhaps a subject that Edith felt some affinity with, having come from stark poverty herself. The light-hearted yet darkly spiced flavour of the song is expressed perfectly by Piaf. The album closes with Edith’s heroic rendition of ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’.  The song has become Edith’s anthem and encapsulates the outstandingly powerful stature of such a remarkable woman – the ‘little sparrow’ who spread her wings wide. The bonus disc is a collection of songs by artists who were based in or frequented the hot steamy streets of France’s capital city. From the cabaret songs of Josephine Baker to the smooth tenor tones of Charles Aznavour, this collection oozes Parisian chic. Snap up this Rough Guide and enjoy a timeless collection of classic song. Titles   CD1 1.La Vie En Rose 2.Adieu Mon Coeur 3.Un Refrain Courait Dans La Rue 4.Les Amants De Paris 5.Le Chevalier De Paris 6.Jezebel 7.Demain (Il Fera Jour) 8.Rien De Rien 9.La Chanson De Catherine 10.Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux 11.Padam Padam 12.Notre-Dame De Paris 13.Johnny Tu N'Est Pas Un Ange 14.La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean 15.L'Accordéoniste 16.Miséricorde 17.Les Amants D'Un Jour 18.La Foule 19.T'Es Beau Tu Sais 20.Milord 21.Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien CD2 includes bonus Vintage Paris CD 1.Berthe Sylva: Celosa 2.Josephine Baker: La Petite Tonkinoise 3.Marlene Dietrich: Lili Marlene 4.Lucienne Boyer: La Valse Tourne 5.Charles Trenet: La Folle Complainte 6.Juliette Gréco: Sous Le Ciel De Paris 7.Lucienne Delyle: Nature Boy 8.Charles Aznavour: Quand Tu Viens Chez Moi... Mon Coeur 9.Frehel: Où Sont Tous Mes Amants? 10.Georges Brassens: Je Me Suis Fait Tout Petit 11.Damia: C'Est Mon Gigolo 12.Jacques Brel: La Valse Á Mille Temps